1. Why DIY Umrah ? or any other trip.

A question that cannot be answered in just a one liner, but if I had to try, the answer would be: because its way better!

Way better in what way(s) one might ask? Well for starters lets put that down in point form:

Its cheaper, way way cheaper. Gone are the days and mindset that over paying a per person rate for a package is the way to travel. Accommodation has always been booked per room in any event since as far back as my travel memories take me. Personally I have not been on a Umrah package since 1998 and in 2012 prior to traveloyalty.com I went on Umrah backpack style saying in the cheapest (furthest accom for under 50 Riyal per night at the border of 1st Ring Road Madinah and Ajyad in Makkah. Come 2013 with Traveloyalty.com we stayed free on two trips through Hilton Towers in Makkah and Crowne Plaza Madinah, all on points. Heaps closer and heaps better especially for families. This trip would be the kickstart to our future articles and inspiring thousands on staying free even through peak Ramadhaan where most were paying Zar 250,000 and getting zilch back on checkout.

Stay longer through visa validity. You not limited to X-amount days and nights if you not on a package. Visas are valid 30days upon entry to the Kingdom, like most visas they have a fee attached for the full validity period regardless, in this you could maximise the 29 x nights / 30 days validity.

Investment for akhira… and dunya. When you book direct your trip now becomes one that you can earn back points for future free hotel nights. 3rd party bookings are null and void of any earn back and perks.

Perks through Traveloyalty.com in #theTLway, this saves you even more and this alone needs its own chapter, most of which are mentioned in the YouTube video next in the description but just to highlight, food savings by way of lounge access, early check ins and late check outs ( thats like 2 free nights), 2nd adult stays free, upgrades, free breakfast for room, even open complimentary menu’s, all of this has been mentioned many times since 2013, however daily new travelers are discovering the power of loyalty and best of all…

Bonus points. Most never knew that they could earn bulk if not more of their spend back in this alone.

Its easy, super easy. It takes about 20 seconds to make a booking on the hotels app.

Family travel perfected. Thank heavens the locals have large families and in this the hotels are super lenient to those who worry about having to lay out extra person charges and extra rooms in packages.

Flights. Here one can book any way, regardless, be it miles, cash on 3rd party or a find on skyscanner or Ita Matrix. Flights are the easiest part.

Transfers. There are all too many taxis from H1’s to GMC’s to sedans to vans outside airports and hotels that you can negotiate a price with per family not per person.

Yearn for a repeat trip? You will be super pleased you saved mega bucks on last trip incase of the Visa penalty.

DIY travel has worked for hundreds of people you know, theres no reason why it will not work for you!

How we have maximised the blessings of miles and points since traveloyalty.com’s inception over the years, well not so much on the miles sector as yet as we have taken most of the cash specials in Business class or the discounted ways in economy by adding another city or country into the itinerary making it a “open jaw”, such as Morocco and Oman, at the same time earning close to 300,000 miles towards future trips. Click the video below (and hit the subscribe button)

Click on the dropdown ‘show more/down arrow’ in the Youtube link above for the full description to each booking we have previously posted and taken advantage of.

Note: IHG will be switching to dynamic award pricing by the end of 2019, so don’t hold on to your points as they may have minimal value in peak times when cash rates are high. How will this affect Pointbreaks is yet to be seen…

6. Marriott Rewards.

The New Award Chart kicks in 14 September 2019. Look forward to off-peak redemption rates! If you have your eye on a peak time property best book it now prior to the change.

7. IHG Pointbreaks. Valid to Oct 31st, 2019

Rooms from only 5000 or 10,000 or 15000 points per night.

IHG (Intercontinental Hotels Group), the worlds largest 2nd largest hotel and loyalty programme has released a full hotel list for booking.

If you are un-familiar on how to stay for free at top end Intercontinental and Crowne Plaza Hotels kindly read on:

What is Pointbreaks ?

Pointbreaks is the hotel industry’s most economical ( un-matched and un-rivalled) promotion as +200 hotels ( out of 4900 +) are available for the redemption of a mere 5000 points ( it has now been changed to allocate better hotels at 10,000 and 15,000 points per night) regardless of what the normal points reward rate is per night.